The Muslims there would almost certainly form their own independent nation if offered that option. We were a “poor” nation in 1776, don’t kid yourself. There would probably be some kind of assimilation or probation period where their congressmen would just be non-voting observers like the ones now from PR, Guam and DC. Having bases that close to Communist China, Taiwan, Australia and Korea would help us immensely.
2DV, with all due respect, having a “state” of that size, that far away with that many members it would send to Congress that would disproportionately impact our country is a recipe for complete disaster. I have a problem with Hawaii’s “contributions” (4 Communists, including 2 Senators), not to mention an ultraleftist state government that has been moving in the wrong direction since the 1954 coup d’état of the GOP majority. The Philippines would be off the charts. If we’re going to take them, might as well unite with Mexico, since they’re far more politically and culturally in common with them.
Vet, there was no g*ddamn welfare state in 1776, we’d be BANKRUPTED, and we wouldn’t be America anymore.
You want military bases there? Make a deal and lease some land. You don’t have to buy the cow for cripes sake.
Another point, since when do you need to be a radical leftist to be a democrat voter? You don’t, you need to be stupid and easily fooled. More democrat votes are ignorant, clueless morons, as opposed to committed socialists.